A BENEFITS cheat who pocketed more than £21,000 by claiming he couldn’t walk has been rumbled strutting his stuff in a Blues Brothers tribute act.

A benefits cheat pocketed more than £21,000 by claiming he couldn’t walk

Thomas Wilkinson claimed he was too ill to work due to osteoarthritis but was earning about £250-a-time travelling the country with a Blues Brothers tribute band.

Wilkinson performed on stage with tribute band Elwood and Jake and as a Motown and northern soul DJ despite claiming incapacity benefits since 1994 and disability living allowance since 1996.

The 67-year-old admitted two charges of failing to notify authorities of a change in circumstances after wracking up £21,266.09 between June 2007 and July 2014 by fraudulently claiming both disability living allowance and incapacity benefit.

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As he was dragged before Wolverhampton Crown Court, Paul Mytton, prosecuting, said Wilkinson initially started claiming benefits lawfully due to struggles with osteoarthritis, which at one stage left him "unable to walk very far".

Mr Mytton said: "All would have been well in terms of his benefits if that had remained the position.

CATERS

Thomas Wilkinson performed gigs while claiming benefits for osteoarthritis

Deliberately not informing us of a change in your condition that may affect your claim is a crime

Ann Rimmell

"But it became known to the authorities that he was working in the period from June 2007 as a DJ and entertainer.

"All of [the crowds who watched him] said he didn't seem to have any problems walking.”

Mr Mytton added: “He admitted to police effectively that he should have notified the authorities, but said he wasn't as mobile as had been claimed."

Gurdeep Garcha, mitigating, said Wilkinson - who appeared in court with a walking stick - had no previous convictions and being dragged through the courts had given him a "very salutary lesson".

Mr Garcha said Wilkinson is currently taking 14 different types of medication a day, and seeing five different consultants for his various ailments.

Mr Garcha said: "When one actually looks at how much was overpaid per year, it's relatively modest."

Wilkinson was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.

CATETS

Wilkinson played in a Blues Brothers tribute act

Judge Nicolas Webb also gave Wilkinson a 12-month supervision requirement, and a two-month curfew which means he will have to stay at home between 8pm and 7am.

The judge said Wilkinson has began repaying the money he fraudulently claimed.

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Wilkinson pocketed £21,266.09 in benefits

Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman Ann Rimmell said: "Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest - but cases like this show how we are rooting out the unscrupulous minority who are cheating the system, and diverting taxpayers' money from those who really need it.

"We are determined to find those we suspect of abusing the welfare system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils.

"Deliberately not informing us of a change in your condition that may affect your claim is a crime."